All Saints Church, Earls Barton

The tower at All Saints is what stops you in your tracks. You'll spot it well before you reach Earls Barton - that distinctive Saxon structure rising from the village like something from another era entirely. Built around the 10th century, it's one of the finest examples of Anglo-Saxon architecture you'll find in England, all chunky stone and those characteristic long-and-short quoins that somehow look both crude and sophisticated at once.

Inside, the church has that familiar smell of old stone and furniture polish. The Norman nave is solid rather than soaring, with decent carved capitals on the pillars if you bother to look up. It's not a showstopper in terms of decoration - this is proper working church, not a cathedral - but it rewards a proper poke about. The tower itself is the real draw: you can sometimes access it to get proper views across the valley towards Northampton.

History enthusiasts will find this genuinely worthwhile. Families with young kids might lose interest after twenty minutes, unless they're the type who enjoy climbing spiral staircases and learning about medieval craftsmanship. Walkers based at nearby Grendon Lakes will find it a decent leg-stretch from the campsite, only a couple of miles away.

Free to visit, though it's a working parish church so opening times can be variable. Best to check ahead or call in during services. The village itself is pleasant enough for a wander afterwards - nothing spectacular, but that tower alone justifies the detour if you're interested in early medieval England.